Having been dragged around every RSPB reserve in the country as a kid I hate birds, but can identify near every species! Sommerford Common (Purton) isn't too far away and Badbury Hill (Coleshill) isn't too bad. Coate Water or Lydiard in Swindon.

There's a Cormerant type bird that stalks the Canal from the bottom of Kingshill to Wichelstow,it sits on posts and stares out fish,there's a Kingfisher on that stretch as well.There are small Birds of Prey at Shaw Forest maybe Kestrel? dunno they are little and hover.

Coate sounds like a good option then, nice for a wander around even if we don't see much.

Have you seen the kingfisher much yeo? It is a bird that has so far eluded me, bar from the occasional flash of blue flying across my peripheral vision and frequently hearing them call from the stream that runs through the park near my flat. The kingfisher footage on Springwatch this week has been incredible. I spent ages watching an adult cormorant with a juvenile yesterday on a reserve just outside Coventry - it might be a sad hobby but it's cheap (to start with) and very relaxing.

I'd love to get into the photography side of it as well Sam but it's an expensive hobby as you inevitably end up spending more and more money on kit to obtain that elusive shot of a short eared owl... My mate spent upwards of £10k on his kit and he got fed up with it pretty soon. Check out his shots here.